On average,
most hospitals see 3-5 patients over the age of 65 on a daily basis due to
falls. Many of these falls result in
broken bones and surgical procedures to correct them. It is a very common occurrence
in emergency rooms across the country.
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The
older we get, the less muscle we have.
The person may have at one time been a great athlete, and they may still
be in good shape, but the bottom line is that they are not as young as they
used to be. It may be difficult for some
people to accept that, so they continue on as they did in previous years. That is, until they have an injury. Broken hips account for about one half of all
surgeries performed by orthopedic surgeons.
Sadly, many times an elderly person breaks a hip they are not quick to
bounce back and some never recover from the injury. After a break to the hip, it is painful to
begin movement. The surgical site hurts,
the break itself is sore, and no one wants to try and stand when pain is
involved. For a young person, they have
incentives to get mobile quickly, not so much in the elderly. Many senior citizens opt to give up after a
fall, and they never really recover. As
an older person becomes less mobile they have a tendency to go downhill.
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Balance
is another reason older people may fall.
As the body ages, sometimes the ability to maintain perfect balance
leaves us. Where someone may have
previously been able to walk a tightrope, now they may do good to walk down a
sidewalk without falling over, it's just nature, sorry everyone.
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Drops
in blood pressure can create dizziness upon standing, which can initiate a
fall. Older patients with the problem of
being light-headed when they first stand, should practice rising slowly, and
stand in one place for a minute to ensure they are safe to proceed
walking.
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Foot
pain is another main cause of falls in the elderly. Making sure to address any foot discomfort
can ensure the patient stays on their feet.
Hospitalized
Fall Patients
Most patients
that have fallen are going to wear a risk of fall bracelet so that no one
attempts to have them rise on their own.
They may require assistance during their hospital stay to go to the restroom
and especially to shower, which is where many falls occur in the elderly. For patients that may be suffering from
memory problems, it may be necessary to use an alarm mat that will alert when
they attempt to stand.
Preventing
Falls
The
absolute best way to avoid an elderly person being hospitalized from a fall, is
to have them avoid the fall altogether.
There are things that can be done within the home to help prevent falls.
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Make
sure all surfaces are even. When you
step from one surface to another it can cause a person to tripor lose their
balance, ultimately causing a fall.
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Secure
carpeting and rugs. An area rug may
sometimes have ends that curl up slightly, which is an accident waiting to
happen. That is very easy to trip over, and
it could be avoided all together. For
new rugs that have that crease, use a heavy object to hold the rug down until
it lays naturally.
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Make
sure rugs are not going to slide when stepped on they can turn into a flying
carpet if not careful.
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Keep
objects removed from pathways. Kids or
pets can leave toys throughout the house, and stepping on a plastic toy could
cause a bad fall.
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For
homes that have pets, take extra caution.
Pets have a way of getting directly under your feet, and can cause an
older person with limited balance to fall.
Pet may also have accidents from either end that could create a slick
area on a hard surface.
Keep floors
and walking paths free of debris, and advise elderly people to always observe
where they are walking. This will ensure their path is safe to walk on and they
can avoid it if it is not. If you have a hospitalized fall victim,
encourage them to get a home assessment for safety purposes. Many insurance companies will provide this
service free of charge. County aging
services may offer similar services that can help prevent falls and offer
safety tips for senior citizens.
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